Companies must be realistic about attracting talent

IT IS annoying that companies state the following problems in the same breath: lack of technical competencies, lack of experience, and candidates looking for too much pay ("These are the 5 hardest positions to fill in Singapore, survey finds"; ST Online, Monday).

Are companies willing to train their staff to take on skilled positions? Are they willing to take in students as interns?

Employers need to see the job process as a long-term one. For example, if engineering companies offer only low pay for starting engineers, engineers may be driven away from the industry.

A few years down the road, there will be a shortage of experienced engineers, no matter how much salary employers offer.

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